Rove, Moulitsas Play to Type in 'Newsweek'

If you thought having Karl Rove and Markos Moulitsas write for Newsweek was a bad idea when you heard about it, wait till you read their first columns.

I just did, and...wow. Crossfire was about right. Maybe you'll like it, though -- if Republicans and Democrats shouting past each other and using recycled talking points is your idea of worthwhile political dialogue.

Rove's column, on "How to Beat Hillary," is basically a riff on something he's been saying to anyone who will listen for months: that Clinton, who "has the highest negatives in history," is vulnerable in the general election. Apart from sidelong digs at her and her party (eg. "Democrats have bet on failure"), Rove offers only the most generic of advice: "Say in authentic terms what you believe"; "Tackle issues families care about"; "Don't assume everyone knows you."

Moulitsas also offers campaign advice, in this case to Democrats running for office next year. His column will shatter no preconceptions among those who think DailyKos is peopled entirely by hysterical left-wingers. "If Americans want willfully ineffective government, they'll have a Republican party desperate for their votes," etc., etc.

About the only surprise here is the physical placement of the two columns in the magazine: Rove inhabits the left-hand page, while Moulitsas is on the right. Get it?

UPDATE: Radar columnist Charles Kaiser reports that Rove initially shopped his services to Time, which deemed him too tainted by partisanship to be worth hiring. Imagine that.